Former Atlantic County Man Charged with Murder in Connection to a 2009 Shooting

Atlantic City, NJ -- On Aug. 18, a man was charged with murder in connection with a 2009 shooting in Atlantic City, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office charged Germaine Boothe, 27, formerly of Atlantic City, with the Nov. 2014 murder of Malik Green, then 26 years old, of Atlantic City.

At around 7:20 a.m. on Nov. 22, 2009, Atlantic City Police officers responded to a call regarding a shooting inside Hudson's Bar and Grill, according to the press release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office.

Officers found Green on the floor of the bar, bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound to the neck. Green underwent emergency surgery in the Intensive Care Uint at the AtlantiCare Medical Center, the press release says.

Green was paralyzed from the neck down as a result of the shooting. He died as a result of his injuries four years later in Philadelphia on Jan. 22, 2014, the press release reports.

Witnesses at the scene said a man had opened the door to the bar, pointed a sawed-off shotgun, fired two shots into the bar, and fled on foot, the press release says. After an investigation, it was determined that one shot hit the wall and the other shot struck Green in the neck.

Later that morning, officers found a 12 gauge sawed-off double-barreled shotgun between a dumpster and a wall near the scene, according to the press release.

An intensive investigation led to an issuance of criminal charges against Boothe on Dec. 10, 2009, for Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon on Dec. 10, 2009, the press release reports.

The Atlantic City Police Department Vince Unit and Patrol officers found and arrested Boothe in a grocery store in Atlantic City on Dec. 22, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. Officers transported him to the Atlantic City Police Department, where he was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $500,000 full cash bail, the press release reports.

On March 17, 2010, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Boothe on 11 criminal counts, the press release reports: Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault by Recklessly Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Aggravated Assault by Causing Injury with a Deadly Weapon, 2 counts of Aggravated Assault by Pointing a Firearm, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (possession without first obtaining a firearms purchaser ID card), Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (sawed-off shotgun), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (loaded shotgun), Transport of a Sawed-off Shotgun, and Obstruction of the Administration of Law.

On Oct. 12, 2012, Boothe pled guilty to 2nd degree Aggravated Assault, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, according to the press release. The State alleged that before the shooting took place, Boothe had been kicked out of Hudson's Bar and Grill for disorderly behavior. Boothe then returned to the bar approximately 45 minutes later with the shotgun, the press release says.

Boothe was then sentenced to eight years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison on Nov. 16, 2012.

Further investigation led to the murder charge, alleging that Boothe “did purposely or knowingly cause the death of Malik Green, specifically by shooting him in the neck on November 22, 2009, which resulted in Malik Green’s death on January 22, 2014,” the press release states.

On Aug. 19, detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office served the new complaint to Boothe at Bayside State Prison, where he is currently serving the sentence for Aggravated Assault.

Boothe is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m. If Boothe is convicted for murder, he has a potential sentence of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison for a period of 30 years to life, the press release reports.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (609) 909-7666.

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